Utah Businessman Sentenced to Year in Prison For Importation of Non-FDA Approved Medicines
On July 31, 2013, Michael Lawrence O’Donnell of Pleasant Grove, Utah, was sentenced to a year in federal prison for operating a series of unlicensed wholesale businesses that sold non-FDA approved prescription drugs to health care providers. O’Donnell imported prescription drugs (including Botox, Zometa, Gemzar, and Aranesp) from the United Kingdom-based company GHRX. He then filled prescription drug orders via two fake Internet B-to-B pharmacies he had set up, Clinical Care Pharmacy and Concord Drug Store.
Who: Office of Criminal Investigation of the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA-OCI), United States Department of Justice (DOJ).
When: July 31, 2013; October 2005- March 2007.
Where: Pleasant Grove, Utah
How: Shipment of misbranded Botox intercepted enroute to New York healthcare provider in 2006..
Additional details:O’Donnell engaged in the wholesale distribution of prescription drugs, including Botox, Zometa, Gemzar, and Aranesp. At the time he was distributing the drugs around the United States, he admitted that he did not possess a license from the State of Utah to engage in the wholesale distribution of the drugs.
Related sources:
“ July 31, 2013: Pleasant Grove Man Sentenced to Prison After Pleading Guilty to Unlicensed Wholesale Distribution of Prescription Drugs. ,” FDA Press Release. July 31, 2013.
“ Pleasant Grove man sentenced to federal prison for distribution,” Daily Herald. August 02, 2013.